A tireless Bayonne group has secured enough signatures this time around to get its rent control initiative on the November ballot.

Ed Gilligan of the Bayonne Tenant’s Organization said his group acquired nearly 2,000 signatures to put the initiative before the City Council.

“I hope the council would hear the voice of the people and not let politics get in the way,” said Gilligan. “This would increase security for residents in their homes.”

In 2011, the city adopted a vacancy decontrol law that allows landlords to apply to have units removed from rent control guidelines. Under the city’s law, landlords can opt out if a tenant willingly moves or is legally evicted.

Bayonne City Council President Terry Ruane said the initiative’s fate now rests in the hands of the voters.

Citizen-generated petitions have the power to put a question on the ballot. If it passes a majority vote, it becomes law.

“When I present this to you it is deemed to be passed on a forced reading,” Bayonne City Clerk Robert Sloan said to City Council members during a caucus Wednesday. “You have the opportunity to have it enacted. If you don’t do anything about it, it will go on the November ballot.”

In November 2012, the initiative did not gain enough votes to overturn the city’s vacancy decontrol law. Yet, a municipal law allows for petitions like the BTO’s to be brought up “as many times as they want,” Sloan said.

“We’ll let the voters decide for a second time,” added Ruane.

In March, the rent control initiative fell 122 signatures short of getting on the May ballot. The initiative required at least 1,101 valid signatures — or 10 percent of the 11,005 people who voted in the previous November election — but only received 979.

Despite falling short, the BTO was granted a 10-day extension, during which it acquired the additional necessary signatures, Sloan said.

Gilligan said his group will be present for tomorrow’s City Council meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 630 Avenue C.

“People have been harassed out of their homes,” said Gilligan. “If we repeal vacancy decontrol, the financial motivation to harass people is removed.”

The BTO recently endorsed mayoral-candidate Jimmy Davis. Gilligan added his group has over 200 members.

“We have until November to build a positive campaign. We’d love to see vacancy decontrol repealed,” said Gilligan.